Car-coupling



(No Model.) G. W. SMILLIE.

CAR COUPLING. No. 451,883. Patented May5, 1891.

Urvrrn TATES ATENT Fries.

GEORGE \V. SMILLIE, OF NEVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMILLIE COUPLER AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEV JERSEY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,883, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed January 21, 1891. Serial No. 378,532. (No model.)

To all whom it'may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SMILLIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following, taken in connection with the drawings herewith accompanying, is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of carcouplers known as the vertical-plane couplers, and usually provided with a hinged jaw or hook for engaging and coupling with a corresponding part of another or second coupler and with a coupling-pin or other device for adjustably locking the said hinged jaw or book in a locked position with its engaging coupler; and my invention consists'in the construction of the said hinged jaw or hook and in the combination therewith of a hinged plate or apron for supporting the pin or device for locking the said hinged jaw or hook in a manner as will hereinafter be set forth in detail, and pointed out in the claims.

The main object of my invention is to provide a means for adjustably supporting the coupling-pin or. other device for locking the locking jaw or hook in a raised position from engagement with such locking jaw or hook or part thereof that is located and adapted to operate at or near the center of the draw-head in order to prevent the necessity of reducing or cutting away the shell or body of the draw-head and thereby impair its strength and durability. Hence my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents two of my improved couplers in en gagement; Fig. 2, a horizontal sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3, a single coupler, show- 40 ing the locking jaw or hook open or in position as when uncoupled.

In the drawings, A represents the draw-bar, and B the draw-head, provided with two arms or extensions 1) b, projecting from the front face thereof, forming a recess for the admission of theengaging jaw or hook in a manner as shown.

0 represents the coupling jaw or hook hinged to one of the said arms or extensions 1), and provided with an arm 0 extending at right angles, or nearly so, therefrom into a suitable opening in the draw-head. Said arm .ois adapted to be engaged on its forward side in order to hold the jaw or hook C in a locked position with an engaging coupler by a coupling-pin D, which latter is supported and adapted to operate in a vertically-arranged opening a in the draw-head. The said arm 0 is provided on its rear side thereof with a hook or projection c, which is adapted to engage with a counterpart projection a in the wall of the draw-head when the locking jaw or hook O is coupled or in engagement with another coupler, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to relieve the strain on the pivot-pin c and also toprevent the locking jaw or hook from being pulled-from its position in the draw-head in case of the loss or breakage of its pivot-pin 0 said hook or projection being held in such engagement with its counterpart projection by means of the coupling-pin D, as will be readily understood. By this method of const-ruction the strain upon the coupling-hook O is divided between the pivot-pin 0 the coupling-pin D, and the said projection ct, in lieu of being directly upon the pivot-pin in the usual manner, and thereby greatly in creasing the strength of the coupler. \Vhen the coupling jaw or book 0 is thrown open to uncouple or disengage with a oonnecting-coup- 8o ler, the end of its arm 0 engages with a projection a in the draw-head to limit its outward throw, as will be readily understood.

E represents a horizontally-arranged plate or apron adapted to support the coupling-pin D when raised from engagement with the arm or extension 0 of the locking jaw or hook, and is pivotally connected at or near one end to the arm or extension 0 near its pivot-point, and at its opposite free end extends into the opening a in the draw-bar, said opening being of suitable dimensions to hold the said free end of the plate, or apron E in a stationary, or nearly so,'position, and allow a slight lateral movement or play of the same for its proper operation, as will be readily understood hereinafter. WVhen the coupling-pin D is raised from engagement with the arm 0 of the locking hook or jaw and the latter is opened, as shown in Fig. 3, the plate E is TOO moved or carried forward, by reason of its connection with the arm 0 of the locking-jaw,

a sufficient distance to bring the cavity or seat 6 therein to a position immediately beneath the end of the coupling-pin D for the support of the latter. YVhen the locking jaw or hook is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, by reason of its engagement with an engaging coupler or otherwise, the plate or apron E is moved back from its position under the coupling-pin to allow the latter to drop into position to engage with the arm or extension 0 and hold the locking jaw or hook in its locked position.

Having thus set forth my invention, I do notwish to be understood as claiming, broadly, a means located within the draw-head for supporting the coupling-pin in a raised position from engagement with the locking jaw or hook or a part't-hereof; but

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-head, of a hinged locking jaw or hook, at supporting plate or apron pivotally connected at one end to the said locking jaw or. book or a part thereof, and a coupling-pin, substantially as described, and for the pun pose set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a projection adapted to engage with a counterpart projection with which the draw-head is provided, a plate or apron adapted for the support of the coupling-pin or other locking device pivotally connected with the said looking jaw or hook and operated thereby, and a device for engaging with the said locking jaw or hook to adjustably lock the same, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEO. IV. SMILLIE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. DANE, JOSEPH M. CRANE. 

